Seven Devils and a Rose

Alfie nodded. "I hope everything is okay. When I got transported… I mean lost during my travels and found myself here, I was so scared, but more so, I was worried about my parents and what was likely to happen to them. I mean, I'm still very worried about them and desperately want to tell them that I'm all right and that I'll find a way to get back soon." She sighed. "I only wish there was a way for me to get in contact with them."

Caleb said, "Why don't you contact them using the WIFI communication system?"

"Where I'm from, there's no access to that system," Alfie said with a disheartened sigh.

Caleb thought for a moment and then said, "There is another way, if the other side cannot access the WIFI system."

Alfie's interest was piqued immediately. "Really? How?"

Caleb tapped his finger at his temple. "Through dreams."

"Dreams?"

Caleb nodded. "Someone with the correct qi wavelength can do it. Tap into the universe, and in turn, your thoughts or messages can be transmitted into a dream. Why don't you ask Aria? She's a mage with the right qi wavelength for communication and connection."

Alfie's eyes lightened immediately. "Aria is a mage? And she can help with delivering my message to my parents?"

Caleb nodded.

Excited, Alfie caught Caleb's hands and clutched them tightly in appreciation. "Then I'll ask her. Thank you so much, my lord."

Caleb frowned. "Caleb." He corrected.

Alfie chuckled and then repeated, "Caleb."

Talking about the WIFI communication system, Caleb asked, "You managed to tap into Felix's qi?"

Alfie stared at him blankly, and Caleb explained, "You chatted with him online back in the woods that night."

"Oh… that… Yes. Back when I was lost in the woods, after Aria and everyone was captured by the bandits, I was so afraid and did my best to connect with someone. Just anyone would have done, as long as they could help pass on the message to the team. The only one I got was Lord Felix. I felt his qi."

She shrugged her shoulders. "Then again, I can chat online with Aria, Brenna, and Leona now, too, since I got to know them more. I can feel their qi and can connect with them very easily."

There was a silence, and then Caleb said softly and darkly, "Connect with me, too."

"Eh?" Alfie was pleasantly surprised at his words.

"Get to know my qi," he said.

Without any warning, the dark lord placed his large, warm hand on the back of Alfie's head, his fingers digging deeply into her hair. Then he drew her close and claimed her sensual lips that had been enticing him since the first time he had met her in the woods.

A delicate groan escaped Alfie's mouth, which only served to burn the passionate desire that was stirring deep within Caleb's being.

Alfie's lips were soft and sweet against his firm ones, and Caleb wanted more. Thus, he licked, stroked, and urged the delicate flesh to part for him. When Alfie weakly obliged, the lord plunged his tongue in and hungrily devoured the little being that was quivering so delicately in his arms.

Caleb couldn't help himself and drew her tightly against him, feeling her soft body, which only made him want to strip her clothes off and ravish her.

Fuck! He wanted more. He needed more. And thus, Lord Caleb Harrington, dubbed the Dark Lord of Acaedien, proceeded to suck and devour Alfie's pure qi while he passionately and wildly kissed her until Alfie was dazed, breathless, and scared shitless.

When Caleb finally moved back, he noted that expression on Alfie's face, and it nearly broke him.

Tears were brewing in those gorgeous brown eyes, cheeks were blushed red, while those sensual lips were swollen red and glistening wet with moisture.

Caleb was so fucking turned on that he thought he'd go insane if he couldn't claim her as his. Just as suddenly, however, Caleb knew he had gone too far.

Fuck! What the hell have I done? Alfie had trusted him, and now he was about to attack and eat her up?

Feeling guilty, the lord said, as he pulled the quivering Alfie into his arms, "I'm sorry, Alfie. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're scared, aren't you?"

Face buried deep against Caleb's chest, Alfie nodded.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Caleb said. "I wasn't thinking…"

No, there was no excuse for what he had done, and Caleb knew that. The fact that he had lost control of himself because of this overwhelming, powerful desire for Alfie was something that scared him shitless.

Alfie, clutching tightly onto Caleb, said, her voice quivering, "I understand. It's because of my pure qi, isn't it? You're attracted to that. Aria, Brenna, and Leona told me to be careful, but… it's hard to be careful with you and all the lords, since you're all so nice to me and—"

"No," Caleb said. "It's not that. It's not the pure qi. Granted, those of us with dark qi are attracted to those with pure qi, but with you, it's different." He moved back and gazed into her eyes. "Alfie, I've never been like this with anyone. I've never felt this drawn to anyone since two thousand years ago."

Alfie asked, "Two thousand years?"

Caleb nodded and was about to continue explaining when he was interrupted. Brenna's voice came through loudly via the WIFI connection.

"Alfie?"

Alfie felt flustered and then said weakly, "It's Brenna."

Caleb sighed, more than a little annoyed that they were being interrupted. He said, "Tell her we're coming."

Alfie nodded and said loudly, "We're coming, Brenna."

"We?" Alfie heard Brenna ask in return.

Alfie was about to explain, but Caleb stopped her by drawing her into his arms again. He hugged her tightly and then planted a gentle kiss on her sensitive lips.

Alfie was pleasantly surprised.

Caleb said softly, his grey eyes smoldering darkly, "Never stop thinking about me and my kisses, little one."

With that, he stood, pulling the dazed Alfie along with him. A few moments later, they met up with Brenna, who was shocked and surprised to see Caleb with Alfie. Of course, she was shocked and surprised for a second time when they encountered the other six lords as they were about to exit the establishment.

Along the hallway was Victor piggybacking the very drunk Ethan. Beside them, Felix was also piggybacking the passed-out Aaron. Noah was still reading a report on his tablet, while Geoffrey looked amused.

The moment Felix saw Alfie, he asked, "Alfie! What the hell are you doing here of all places?"

Brenna proceeded to explain to them what had happened.